Summer Outdoor Series
Join us around Boston for free and Pay-What-You-Can outdoor shows this summer! Outdoor puppet shows make a great summer activity for the whole family.
July 11 (Sat) 2026: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner in the Boston Common
A hilarious, hand-crafted farce inspired by the tradition of Punch and Judy puppet shows!
Recommended for ages 4 - 10
Hand puppetry
July 18 (Sat) 2026: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner in the Boston Common
Party Animals follows five furry friends as they navigate the biggest social hurdle of their young lives — throwing their first party! Featuring incredibly catchy, original rock 'n' roll music.
Recommended for ages 5 - 10
Hand puppetry
Jul 25 (Sat) 2026: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner in the Boston Common
Join Pirate Kasandra and her puppet pals for an interactive high-seas adventure full of surprises, laughter, and treasure hunting!
Recommended for ages 5 - 8
Soft puppets
Aug 1 (Sat) 2026: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner in the Boston Common
Encounter magnificent creatures from the wilds of your imagination as their quirky human caretaker tries to teach them new tricks in this colorful show from CactusHead Puppets!
Recommended for ages 3 - 7
Mixed puppetry styles, including table top and direct manipulation
Aug 8 (Sat) 2026: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner in the Boston Common
Word Play uses clowning, puppetry, and live original music to take audiences on an adventure through the alphabet!
Recommended for ages 3 - 7
Object puppetry, live actors, and original music
Aug 13 (Thu) 2026: 10:30 am at TADPole10, at the Tadpole Playground in the Boston Common
Encounter magnificent creatures from the wilds of your imagination as their quirky human caretaker tries to teach them new tricks in this colorful show from CactusHead Puppets!
Recommended for ages 3 - 7
Mixed puppetry styles, including table top and direct manipulation
Aug 15 (Sat) 2026: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner in the Boston Common
A pajama-clad unicyclist careens on stage, suitcase in tow. Unpacking, ze introduces the audience to a whimsical world of clothes-pin towers, erratic toothbrushes & gargantuan grins!
All ages welcome!
Juggling, puppetry, and more
Aug 22 (Sat) 2026: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner in the Boston Common
Encounter magnificent creatures from the wilds of your imagination as their quirky human caretaker tries to teach them new tricks in this colorful show from CactusHead Puppets!
Recommended for ages 3 - 7
Mixed puppetry styles, including table top and direct manipulation
Aug 29 (Sat) 2026: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner in the Boston Common
When his caboose is stranded, a train engineer discovers puppet characters and enchanting musical stories inside a suitcase!
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 - 7
Hand puppets, live music, and more
Past Summer Outdoor Series Performances
Aug 23 (Sat) 2025: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner
Encounter magnificent creatures from the wilds of your imagination as their quirky human caretaker tries to teach them new tricks in this colorful show from CactusHead Puppets!
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-7
Mixed puppetry styles, including table top and direct manipulation
August 21 (Thu) 2025: 10:30 am at TADPole10, at the Tadpole Playground in the Boston Common
Encounter magnificent creatures from the wilds of your imagination as their quirky human caretaker tries to teach them new tricks in this colorful show from CactusHead Puppets!
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-7
Mixed puppetry styles, including table top and direct manipulation
Aug 1 (Fri): 8:00 pm at Allerton Overlook
Experience shadow puppetry by firelight! Masters of a traditional form of shadow puppetry from Kerala, India will perform scenes from the dramatic epic Ramayana, complete with scenes of battles, trickery, and the natural world.
Recommended for everyone age 4+
Shadow puppetry
July 26 (Sat) 2025: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner
Join Cow and Mouse in planting their favorite foods, and learn about farming and healthy soil in this interactive tale.
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3 - 8
Hand and rod puppets
Aug 1 (Fri): 8:00 pm at Allerton Overlook
Experience shadow puppetry by firelight! Masters of a traditional form of shadow puppetry from Kerala, India will perform scenes from the dramatic epic Ramayana, complete with scenes of battles, trickery, and the natural world.
Recommended for everyone age 4+
Shadow puppetry
July 19 (Sat) 2025: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner
Encounter magnificent creatures from the wilds of your imagination as their quirky human caretaker tries to teach them new tricks in this colorful show from CactusHead Puppets!
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-7
Mixed puppetry styles, including table top and direct manipulation
July 12 (Sat) 2025: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner
Word Play uses clowning, puppetry, and live original music to take audiences on an adventure through the alphabet!
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-7
Object puppetry, live actors, and original music
July 11 (Fri) 2025: short puppet performances will take place from 12:20 pm – 1:30 pm, as part of an event that runs from 11:30 am - 1:30 pm.
An assortment of short, comic puppet scenes set to music, created and performed by Puppet Showplace's very own Resident Artist, Sarah Nolen of Puppet Motion! Boston Summer Eats provides nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost across the City. All youth 18 and under are welcome to participate.
All ages welcome, from 3 to 103!
Hand puppetry
July 5 (Sat) 2025: 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s Stage at UnCommon Corner
Party Animals follows four furry friends as they navigate the biggest social hurdle of their young lives — throwing their first party!
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 5 - 9
Hand puppetry
Sept 14 (Sat): 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s UnCommon Stage in the Boston Common
This summer, we’re bringing marvelous puppetry to an outdoor location near you!
Come celebrate the beautiful — and bizarre! — life cycle transformations that happen every day on our planet. We’ll sing and dance to help polliwogs become frogs and butterflies hatch out of chrysalises.
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-9
Mixed puppetry styles: rod puppets, hand puppets, and masks, plus original music.
Aug 31 (Sat): 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s UnCommon Stage in the Boston Common
This summer, we’re bringing magnificent puppetry to an outdoor location near you!
Encounter magnificent creatures from the wilds of your imagination as their quirky human caretaker tries to teach them new tricks in this colorful show from CactusHead Puppets!
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-7
Mixed puppetry styles, including table top and direct manipulation
Aug 24 (Sat): 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s UnCommon Stage in the Boston Common
This summer, we’re bringing marvelous puppetry to an outdoor location near you!
Come celebrate the beautiful — and bizarre! — life cycle transformations that happen every day on our planet. We’ll sing and dance to help polliwogs become frogs and butterflies hatch out of chrysalises.
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-9
Mixed puppetry styles: rod puppets, hand puppets, and masks, plus original music.
July 27 (Sat): 12:00 pm at Emerson College’s UnCommon Stage in the Boston Common
This summer, we’re bringing magnificent puppetry to an outdoor location near you!
Encounter magnificent creatures from the wilds of your imagination as their quirky human caretaker tries to teach them new tricks in this colorful show from CactusHead Puppets!
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-7
Mixed puppetry styles, including table top and direct manipulation
July 13 (Sat): 10:30 am at One Brookline Place
This summer, we’re bringing marvelous puppetry to an outdoor location near you!
Come celebrate the beautiful — and bizarre! — life cycle transformations that happen every day on our planet. We’ll sing and dance to help polliwogs become frogs and butterflies hatch out of chrysalises.
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-9
Mixed puppetry styles: rod puppets, hand puppets, and masks, plus original music.
July 12 (Fri): 12:30 pm show / 12:00 pm meal service in Mattapan at Mildred Avenue K-8 School
Supporters are welcome to attend this launch event, in celebration of healthy food for all children. Summer Eats provides nutritious breakfast and lunch at no cost. All youth 18 and under are welcome to participate. No ID or registration required to receive meals.
This summer, we’re bringing marvelous puppetry to an outdoor location near you!
Come celebrate the beautiful — and bizarre! — life cycle transformations that happen every day on our planet. We’ll sing and dance to help polliwogs become frogs and butterflies hatch out of chrysalises.
All ages welcome, especially enjoyed by ages 3-9
Mixed puppetry styles: rod puppets, hand puppets, and masks, plus original music.
